VOLCANIC ISLANDS OFF THE AZORES. 



Numerous islands of this description have, at various periods of the 

 world, made their brief appearance, and then are in "the deep cavern 

 of the ocean buried." In the night of the first of February, 1811, flames 

 were observed issuing from the sea, at the distance of about a mile and 

 a half from the west end of St. Michaels, and soon after a most awful and 

 tremendous explosion took place, throwing up, from a depth of forty 

 fathoms, cinders, ashes, and stones, of immense size. 



Quantities of fish, as if boiled, floated on the surface of the sea towards 

 the shore, and a dangerous shoal was thus formed. On the thirteenth of 

 June, two columns of white smoke were seen rising from the sea at this 

 spot, and the Sabrina, British sloop of war, supposing it to be the result 

 of an engagement, made sail towards it. For two or three days previous, 

 however, repeated shocks of an earthquake had been felt at St Michaels, 

 which threw down several cottages, and portions of the cliff, towards the 

 north west, but these ceased so soon as the volcano broke out. On the 

 eighteenth it was still raging with unabated violence, throwing up, from 

 under the water, large stones, cinders, ashes, &c., accompanied with 

 several severe concussions. About noon on the same day, the mouth of 

 the crater just showed itself above the surface of the sea, where there 

 was formerly forty fathoms of water, at 3 p. m. it was about thirty feet 

 above the water, and about a furlong in length. On the nineteenth it 

 was about fifty feet high, and two thirds of a mile in length, still raging 

 as before, and throwing up large quantities of stones, some of which fell 

 a mile distant from the volcano. The smoke drew up several water 

 spouts, which, spreading in the air, fell in heavy rain, accompanied with 

 vast quantities of black sand. On the twentieth the Sabrina proceeded 

 on a cruise, leaving the volcano about 150 feet high, still raging as 

 formerly, and increasing in size; when she returned on the fourth of 

 July, it was found quite quiet, and a complete island formed. The 

 captain and several officers landed upon it, and found it very steep, and 

 between 200 and 300 feet in height. It was with difficulty they were 

 able to reach the top, which at last they effected in a quarter where there 

 was a gentle declivity, but the ground, or rather ashes, composed of 

 sulphureous matter, dross of iron, &c. ; was so very hot to their feet 

 that they were glad to return, after having taken possession of the island 



